Committee recommends liquor license for Far East Cafe adjacent space in Chinatown

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted April 24 to ask the clerk to prepare a resolution finding that the proposed transfer of a Type 48 on‑sale general public premises liquor license to Far East Cafe Inc., doing business as Far East Cafe Social Club, at 627 Grant Avenue "would serve the public convenience or necessity" and to forward that resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation.

The vote followed a presentation by Lieutenant David Gough of the San Francisco Police Department’s Alcohol Beverage Control liaison unit, who told the committee the applicant had filed with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for a Type 48 license and that there were "0 calls for service and 0 police reports from the time period of 03/11/2024 to 03/11/2025" for the proposed premises. Gough also described the site as being in the Central Police District and in a high‑crime and high‑concentration area. He summarized standard Alcohol Liaison Unit conditions to mitigate neighborhood impacts, including monitoring for loitering, maintaining adjacent areas free of litter, limits on noise audible beyond the premises, and security requirements when live entertainment is provided.

Supervisor Danny Sauter, whose district includes Chinatown, spoke in support and described the venue as "significant because it is the last, full scale banquet hall in Chinatown," saying approval would activate an adjacent space long vacant. A representative for the applicant, identified as Mr. Villalobos, said the proprietors (the Lee family) are respected in the neighborhood and asked for the committee's support.

There was no public comment on the item. Chair Matt Dorsey moved the resolution; the clerk conducted a roll call. Vice Chair Bilal Mahmood, Member (Supervisor) Danny Sauter and Chair Matt Dorsey cast the committee’s three recorded votes in favor and the clerk announced the motion passed.

The committee’s action is procedural: it directs staff to prepare the formal resolution and transmits the committee recommendation to the full Board of Supervisors, which will make the final determination on whether to adopt the finding for the ABC licensing process.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: "Prepare a resolution making a determination that the issuance of a Type 48 on‑sale general liquor license to this applicant would serve the public convenience or necessity and send that to the full board with a positive recommendation." Mover: Chair Matt Dorsey. Vote: Mahmood — aye; Sauter — aye; Dorsey — aye. Outcome: approved (committee forwards to full Board).